Redemption in Cleveland: D-Rose and D-Wade

It’s only preseason for the Cavs I know, but did you see Dwayne Wade turn back the clock to throw down that reverse dunk on the Pacers? How about when Derrick Rose made a nice move in the air to put up a finger roll and Wade came in to slam the finish home after it took a bad bounce off the rim? His knees aren’t looking so bad after all. Maybe his workouts with LeBron are really paying off!

I love this Derrick Rose and Dwayne Wade affinity developing. Both Chicago-raised guys have been superstars in their prime, without argument. They both have been through some rough years in the wrong situation.

In his own way, D-Wade attempted going back “home” to play for the Bulls. Yet he got the wool pulled over his eyes as a playoff-caliber team quickly self-destructed by handing off both Jimmy Butler and Rajon Rondo, leaving Wade looking around with no talent around him.

Rose has already tried to start a new chapter before when he left the Bulls to attempt a new era on the Knicks. That obviously failed. Rose even said:

“I was in a dark place years ago, man. By a dark place, I mean, I was playing, like, revenge basketball, and that wasn’t my way of playing basketball.”

By joining the Cavaliers, D-Rose has already developed a new mentality and fresh spirit for basketball and for winning again. Teammates like Kevin Love have already said he looks to be in prime Derrick Rose form again.

Proof of where Rose is now mentally: “I’ve been preparing myself for this situation, this stage for a long time. Preparing my body, preparing myself mentally, emotionally, spiritually, trying to be well-rounded for this stage and for this journey. Being here, the guys, I feel like I’m in a great situation. Everybody’s focused. I love the staff, I love the front office, I love everything about it and I love Cleveland. That helps a lot.”

D-Wade and D-Rose are both here, in our town and on our team to right their ships and get to the ‘Ship. I love that. They are here rewriting their own destiny. What these guys are able to do for Cleveland this year is already starting to make itself evident. This narrative is going to be so fun to watch play out!